New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-26
THREATENING 4 COUNTY JUDGE.
NEW MURDERS EXPECTED IN HARDIN COUNTY, IL

NEW MURDERS EXPECTED IN HARDIN COUNTY, ILL.
"A SERIES OF AssAssiNATIoNs.
HARRISBURG. Ill., July 25 (SpeeaD Tho latestfeature Of
the Hardin County vendetta anonymous communicar
ou n writing to County Judge Jacob Hess to leave that
county Similar notices ryed upon Logan Belt
and James d. Belt before they assassinaed Hess
10 brother-in-aw to Radcliffe, who with James d.
Belf when the latter assasnated and who was ono
Of the four defendants cleared In the BetHambrink
murder trial. Attorney George W. Pillow. OF Shawnee
town. who defended and cleared the Belts, Radcliffe and
Sherwood has received notice in writing that IL he re-
mains his side Of the Saline ell will bc we'll The sa-
line is small river which divides Gallatn County from
Hardin The local paper says that Governor Ogesby
should all necessary measures to punish the crm-
mails.
Hardin County has boen tho scene Of many murders
IN the past and the Beet which took place
last week only Of series OF murders that have
been taking place for eight years. the work OF gang Of
murderers who, IN order to themselves from tho
saows taking the lives OF many respectable citi-
zens Many persons moving out OF the county, while
those that remain fear that their lives Will Dc
taken. Last Representative Taylor introduced
bill in the Illinois Legislature appropriat!ng money
to ferret out and punish these but failed to
get II through. Unless something Is done In tho near
future Hardin County viii experience about the same
murderous warfare existed in Christian County, No..
under the reign OF the :" Paid knobbers."
The assassination OF Logan Belt, who was shot from
amuush and during the latter part of June coupled
with the murder OF James Belt. his brother. last
Tuesday, will bring TO mind the origin OF
the crimes About eight years ago an OLD
farmer. Luke Hsmhrink WAS visited At his house
in the night and and Instantly killed. supposedly
for robbery as he was always known 10 have consider
able money The perpetrators of this murder were never
found out and the Grand Jury have favored necessarily
to ndlc the proper persons but so far their eors nave
been OF avail sinco the killing OF farmer
there have less than dozen muriers forming
a chain Of crimes directly traceable 10 the
killing OF this peaccloviny honest old farmer ihere
have been crimes every kind between which and tho
ipofensve old German T. tracoable some relationship
direct or remote trouble. ut rs OF course, con
ned to tho eighborhocd In which he lived, has Deen
since extended to ali parts Of the coun ~:
In tho time has elapsed since the first Dloodshed
there have trials OF the Ku KuI order at the county
seat which attended by factions who came 10 court
armed. schoohouses and dwelling houses were
burned The county paper was destroyed. and. 10
cap the climax. came the burning OF tue court
and II. records OF past crimes was supposed that
this had settled the swessnes but broke out ain
after the indictment OF six OF the Sons or Liberty o
the murder Of Hambrink Tho Sons OF Liberty were
organized In 1879 primarily IN check disorders but win
the result as usual OF becoming band OF murderers
and outlaws